Dealing with Indigestion - which foods are OK?
Indigestion can be a very uncomfortable condition and affects daily activities when not looked after properly.
We believe it happens when acid from inside the stomach travels up to rub on the lining of the gullet (food pipe).
The gullet is simply the tube or channel that connects your mouth to the stomach and is usually free of acid.
Digestion starts in the stomach, which is where acid is required and produced.
In the normal scenario, there is a little piece of muscle/valve that closes the stomach off from the food pipe and prevents food in the stomach from travelling back to the gullet and this may be affected or weakened when people have indigestion.
The things that can lead to problems with the valve or an excess amount of acid in the stomach can include - certain medicines, being overweight in some people, smoking and alcohol, certain types of food - spicy and starchy food types, conditions like stomach ulcers, hiatus hernia - these appear to happen commonly.
It would be good to understand your own symptoms to assist you with good and effective management and we will be happy to help you in this regard.
There are no foods that cure indigestion but you can control the symptoms by adopting certain food choices which will improve the bowel movement, the effect of acid and help reduce bloating from gases.
If you struggle with indigestion, try to avoid or minimise the following types of food:
1. High-fat foods
2. Tomatoes and other citrus fruits like – grapefruit, orange, pineapple etc
3. Coffee (regular and decaffeinated)
4. Caffeinated soft drinks
5. Tea.
6. Chocolate
7. Garlic, onions, and other spicy foods.
8. Mint - watch out for this. In some cases of upset tummy, indigestion or bloated stomach, mint can help to relieve symptoms, but as it relaxes the muscle between the food pipe and stomach, it can make dyspepsia and acid reflux worse.
On the other hand, the following foods can help improve symptoms associated with indigestion:
1. Oatmeal
2. Ginger used in moderation
3. Salads - although avoiding tomatoes, onions, cheese, and high-fat dressings.
4. Bananas.
5. Watermelon
6. Chicken, Turkey – avoiding the skin
7. Fish, some other seafood
8. Green vegetables
9. Rice, especially brown rice; Semolina.
Hopefully these tips help guide to the right choices for improving your digestion.
As usual, we'd like to hear from you - share some thoughts on other foods that
can help or make digestion worse.
Editing by AskAwayHealth Team Disclaimer All AskAwayHealth articles are edited by practising Medical Practitioners on a wide range of health care conditions to provide evidence based guidance and to help promote quality health care. The advice in our material is not meant to replace management of your specific condition by a qualified health care practitioner. To discuss your condition, please contact a health practitioner or reach us directly through info@askawayhealth.org
